That question from Middle Smithfield Township resident Jon Davis about the township's municipal golf course at Country Club of the Poconos was raised during the public comment part of the township's Board of Supervisors bimonthly meeting. Davis talked about the financial problems of municipal courses he knew about in New Jersey that made those decisions whether to sustain or close a course a "political football" in some cases.

Earlier, during the committee report part of the meetings, Supervisor Mike Dwyer said residual winter weather conditions forced postponement of the start of the season to next weekend, April 11. The board also authorized advertising for seasonal employees at the golf course.

But Dwyer clearly responded about the course that was closed and taken over and run by the township the last three years.

"We'd like to sell it. We've always wanted to sell it," Dwyer said. "You need 15,000 rounds a year for someone to want to buy it and we're up to 12,000, a 10 percent improvement every year. We got an appraisal based on current market conditions and we'd have to put it in public auction or out to bid. Selling a golf course that's closed is like selling a car without tires."

Only when the rounds increase further would the course be marketable. To help it, the golf committee reports that it has partnered with local businesses to offer packages such as "play and stay" for overnight weekend outings as well as advertising opportunities. The committee plans to meet in coming weeks with local businesses to promote tee sponsorship opportunities for advertising, it reports.

Country Club of the Poconos golf course also recently partnered with GolfNow, a national company dedicated to promoting local courses. Through GolfNow, it will have a direct line of communication with many golfers and professional marketing tools.

The golf committee meets at 8 a.m. April 7 at the municipal building.

"It's not going to be a simple process," said township solicitor Michael Gaul about selling the golf course. "It's going to be a big endeavor."

Also at the meeting, the Economic Development Committee toward its Shop Local initiative has nearly completed a directory with 100 local businesses and has used social media strategies toward that end. It said in its regular report it is supporting the supervisors' efforts to launch a Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance program in Middle Smithfield that would allow local taxing authorities to exempt improvements to a business property, especially if such property is in a deteriorated area. That committee meets again 6:30 p.m. April 14.

Supervisor Annette Atkinson said the township continues to work toward having an Eagle Scout project for a Veterans Memorial exhibit at Echo Lake Park.

The township Historical Commission is looking to set up a timeline of the township's history and has planned a 2015 calendar project that would have calendars available for sale by Thanksgiving with photos of different township areas of interest.

Finally, a community garden continues in the works for a parcel along Coolbaugh Road. ... The township's annual Egg Hunt takes place at noon April 12. ... The township's 1,000 Feet of Street, a litter and beautification event that has taken place along Route 209, is scheduled for April 26.